Inspiration
Need more creative stimulation? Follow me on Instagram @iona_handcrafted_books and
browse my gallery to spark your next brilliant idea.
Benno’s Norway Journal
Benno was a dear friend of mine for over 27 years. When we met in 1996 he was a retired architect living in Portland, Oregon. Over the course of our friendship he filled countless numbers of my books with his world travels. Every year or two Benno would loan me one of his completed journals to carry around to my art shows…each was a masterpiece! They are an incredible example of what one can do with our books if so inclined! Sadly, Benno left us in 2024, and I have been heartbroken over the loss. However, lucky for us all, he gifted me with the last journal he'd loaned me. It is of his 2003 trip to New Zealand, and is in my shop now, or on the road with me. Ask to see it next time you visit. If you are inspired, but fear you don’t have the skills…why not take one of the watercolor courses at La Romita in Italy where he taught for many years! Call us for more information or check out www.laromita.org.
Mikey’s African Safari Journal
Years ago, I met my friend Mikey at the Armadillo Christmas Bizarre. She bought one of my journals and took off to Africa with her husband on a safari. A year or so later, she showed me this amazing book she had put together about her trip. Since then, Mikey’s incredible book has inspired so many others who are scared to put paint and colored pencil to paper.
She drew a lot of inspiration from a variety of books including The Decorated Page by Gwen Diehn, The Creative License by Danny Gregory, and How to Draw Animals by Jack Hamm. Any of these books would make a great companion gift along with any of our journals.
Pomona’s Book
Pomona was a dear friend in Austin starting in 2001 or so. I first met her at the Laguna Gloria Arts Festival in Austin. She requested that I make our smallest book for her, but to make it super fat…with 300 pages! So I did, and she filled it up with 300 little watercolor paintings, and filled many more after that. She was a wonderful watercolor and journaling teacher out at Laguna Gloria during the winter and early spring. Once it started getting warm, she would load up her little Volkswagon bug and head to the cooler climate of Abiquiu, New Mexico to teach at Ghost Ranch. She was an absolute joy to be around. After over 20 years of friendship and collaboration we lost our sweet Pomona, and miss her terribly. She truly was an inspiration!
